Pages

Comfort Zone

Friday, May 28, 2010

The longer I look at this, the more I am convinced it looks like a third grader painted it. But yes, folks, that is my work of art.

My recent work of art - like, days ago. Not from third grade.

I am not a crafty person. (I think that is part of the reason God gave me boys. . . fewer days at the craft table.) I like words, and the idea of art, but I don't have that flair. So to say that asking me to paint an actual picture put me outside of my comfort zone, is an understatement. I was sweating. But, I did it, as part of a "get to know you" for a committee I'm on.

We met at Bottles-n-Brushes, in Mt. P. If you've never been, the idea is that you sit in front of your personal blank canvas, and an artist teaches your group how to do his or her painting. Step by step.

"Draw a line 1/3 of the way across the canvas. This is your horizon."

Terror! My line is too high. It is too fat. Argh!

That's the "brushes" part. The "bottles" part is your liquid courage. . . which I needed to get past the straight line part.

But I did it, and by the end, I was whooshing away at that marsh grass. I was still nervous, still second guessing, but also having fun. Imagine that - fun, outside the comfort zone. Maybe I need to go there more often.

So now, when I look at that painting, I will try not to see it's flaws, but to remember:

It is good to learn new things.

It is good to do something that makes you nervous (even if it is silly).

It is good to step outside of your comfort zone.

share this on »

4 Responses to “Comfort Zone”

Oh, I think it's wonderful! And it did remind me of my folk art painting class all those many years ago. I felt the same way you did, and to this day I still can recall how proud I was of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone.